How to Use Mobile Wallets for Secure Shopping

Are you curious about using the mobile wallet feature on your smartphone?

Mobile wallets are a handy way to store debit and credit card information, so you don’t have to carry cards with you. Making a payment by mobile wallet is usually faster than paying with cash, check, or card – simply tap your phone on the reader at checkout and you’re done. This form of payment is also “contactless”, meaning you don’t have to physically touch a pin pad to complete a purchase.

Many online retailers are also starting to accept mobile wallets as a form of payment during checkout. This enables you to make quick, easy payments without entering your card information when shopping from a mobile device or tablet. Mobile wallets also store your billing address, which can help you checkout even faster if using the same information for contact or shipping.

Cybersecurity experts say mobile wallets are safer than using cards because they don’t use your actual card number when you pay. However, there are still things you can do to keep mobile wallet transactions as safe as possible. Here’s what you need to know:

Don’t use public Wi-Fi.
The threat of someone stealing your account numbers is low, but the risk is higher if you add cards to your mobile wallet using a public Wi-Fi network.
Smart tip: Load cards into your mobile wallet at home, using your own password-protected network. Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and sharing features when you’re not using them.

Take precautions in case you lose your phone.
If your phone is lost or stolen, your most sensitive information could be at risk.
Smart tip: Set up two-factor authentication to unlock your phone, requiring a personal identification number (PIN) and fingerprint scanning or facial recognition. Add features that let you wipe data and/or enable password authentication remotely in case your device ends up in the wrong hands.

Keep your device up-to-date.
Smartphones are less likely to be attacked by malware than computers, but don’t let your guard down.
Smart tip: Regularly update your phone’s operating system, apps, and passwords. Don’t click on links in text messages, ads, or emails you don’t recognize.

Use trusted mobile payment apps.
The app that comes with your mobile device is safer and takes fewer steps to use.

Mobile wallets offer a safe, convenient way to pay with your DCU cards. Our debit and credit cards can be used with Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, and Samsung® Pay^. Set up is easy and can be done in seconds. Click here to learn more about adding your DCU cards to mobile wallets.

^Apple and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google and Google Pay are trademarks of Google Inc. Samsung, and Samsung Pay are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as legal, financial, investment or tax advice or indicate that a specific DCU product or service is right for you. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a financial professional.

*Earn More is a sweep feature. Eligible balances are automatically swept out to FDIC and/or NCUA insured deposit accounts held at participating financial institutions throughout the country. You will still have access to your checking account funds. The feature becomes activated on the first of the month following the month enrollment took place. The feature can only be added to one checking account per membership, excluding HSA Checking accounts. Learn More about the Earn More Feature here.